Vertebral implant, vertebral fastening device of the implant and implant instrumentation

Abstract

This disclosure provides vertebral implants, fastening devices for vertebral implants, and implant instrumentation, and various combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the implant comprises a peripheral wall extending according to a vertical axis between upper and lower surfaces of the implant, with each such surface configured to be placed in contact with a vertebral structure, respectively, at the top and the bottom of the vertebral segment replaced by the implant. Some embodiments comprise fastening means, deployment of which anchors the implant in the lower and upper vertebral structures. Some fastening means may be deployed by sliding parallel to the vertical axis of the implant, and may comprise a plate with at least one part remaining in contact with the peripheral wall of the implant when deployed and a pointed end projecting from one of the upper and lower surfaces of the implant to enter a vertebral structures on completion of deployment.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A corpectomy cage and anchor for treating a spine comprising an upper housing, a medial housing, and a lower housing, and further comprising:
 an upper surface on the upper housing configured to contact a lower surface of an upper segment of the spine; a lower surface on the upper housing having a dovetailed recess; a peripheral wall disposed between the upper surface of the upper housing and the lower surface of the upper housing; and a passage extending from the peripheral wall of the upper housing to the upper surface of the upper housing; 
 a lower surface on the lower housing configured to contact an upper surface of a lower segment of the spine; an upper surface on the lower housing having a dovetailed recess; a peripheral wall disposed between the upper surface of the lower housing and the lower surface of the lower housing; and a passage extending from the peripheral wall of the lower housing to the lower surface of the lower housing; 
 a dovetailed projection extending along the upper surface of the medial housing configured to interlock with the dovetailed recess of the upper housing; a dovetailed projection extending along the lower surface of the medial housing configured to interlock with the dovetailed recess of the lower housing; and a peripheral wall disposed between the upper surface of the medial housing and the lower surface of the medial housing; 
 an upper anchor comprising an upper anchor body comprising a pair of opposing generally planar external surfaces and a pair of opposing curvilinear external surfaces, with an upper one of the pair of curvilinear surfaces being concave and a lower one of the pair of curvilinear surfaces being convex; a sharpened projection extending from a leading end of the upper anchor body; and a stop surface protruding from a trailing end of the upper anchor body; and 
 a lower anchor comprising a lower anchor body comprising a pair of opposing generally planar external surfaces and a pair of opposing curvilinear external surfaces, with a lower one of the pair of curvilinear surfaces being concave and an upper one of the pair of curvilinear surfaces being convex; a sharpened projection extending from a leading end of the lower anchor body; and a stop surface protruding from a trailing end of the lower anchor body. 
 
     
     
       2. The corpectomy cage of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the upper anchor and the lower anchor include a plurality of pointed ends separated by the sharpened projection. 
     
     
       3. The corpectomy cage of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the upper anchor and the lower anchor include a pointed end oriented according to a vertical axis of the corpectomy cage upon insertion into the passage. 
     
     
       4. The corpectomy cage of  claim 1 , wherein the passage in the upper housing has a curvilinear trajectory extending between the peripheral wall and the upper surface. 
     
     
       5. The corpectomy cage of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the upper anchor and the lower anchor include a plurality of teeth, notches, or indentations to improve retention of the anchor in a penetrated tissue. 
     
     
       6. The corpectomy cage of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the upper anchor and the lower anchor include a plurality of teeth arranged to engage a wall of the passage and secure it therein. 
     
     
       7. A corpectomy cage comprising:
 an upper housing including:
 an upper vertebral contact surface configured to contact a first vertebral body, 
 a upper connecting surface including a upper dovetailed recess, 
 an upper peripheral wall disposed between the upper vertebral contact surface and the upper connecting surface, and 
 an upper passage extending from the upper peripheral wall to the upper vertebral contact surface; 
 
 a lower housing including:
 a lower vertebral contact surface configured to contact a second vertebral body, 
 a lower connecting surface including a lower dovetailed recess, 
 a lower peripheral wall disposed between the lower vertebral contact surface and the lower connecting surface, and 
 a lower passage extending from the upper peripheral wall to the upper vertebral contact surface; 
 
 a medial housing including an upper dovetailed projection extending along an upper surface to interlock with the upper dovetailed recess on the upper housing and a lower dovetailed projection extending along a lower surface to interlock with the lower dovetailed recess on the lower housing; 
 a curved upper anchor including a sharpened projection extending from a leading end and a stop surface protruding from a trailing end, the curved upper anchor adapted to extend through the upper passage and engage the first vertebral body; and 
 a curved lower anchor including a sharpened projection extending from a leading end and a stop surface protruding from a trailing end, the curved lower anchor adapted to extend through the lower passage and engage the second vertebral body. 
 
     
     
       8. The corpectomy cage of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the upper anchor and the lower anchor include a plurality of pointed ends separated by the sharpened projection. 
     
     
       9. The corpectomy cage of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the upper anchor and the lower anchor include a pointed end oriented according to a vertical axis of the corpectomy cage upon insertion into either the upper passage or the lower passage. 
     
     
       10. The corpectomy cage of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of:
 the upper passage has a curvilinear trajectory extending between the upper peripheral wall and the upper vertebral surface; and 
 the lower passage has a curvilinear trajectory extending between the lower peripheral wall and the lower vertebral surface. 
 
     
     
       11. The corpectomy cage of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the upper anchor the lower anchor include a plurality of teeth, notches, or indentations to improve retention of the anchor in a penetrated tissue. 
     
     
       12. The corpectomy cage of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the upper anchor and the lower anchor include a plurality of teeth arranged to engage a wall of either the upper passage or the lower passage and secure it therein. 
     
     
       13. A spinal implant assembly comprising:
 an implant including a vertebral contact surface, a peripheral enclosing a hollow core, and a passage comprising an interior wall and extending from the peripheral wall to the vertebral contact surface; and 
 an anchor comprising a body with a shape complementary to the shape of the passage and a plurality of teeth disposed on a surface of the anchor, wherein upon insertion of the anchor into the passage at least one tooth of the plurality of teeth includes a tip engaging the interior wall and securing the anchor within the passage. 
 
     
     
       14. The spinal implant assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the passage includes a curvilinear trajectory extending between the peripheral wall and the vertebral contact surface. 
     
     
       15. The spinal implant assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the anchor includes a tissue engaging portion comprising at least one pointed end. 
     
     
       16. The spinal implant assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the tissue engaging portion includes a plurality of teeth, notches, or indentations to improve retention of the anchor in a penetrated tissue. 
     
     
       17. The spinal implant assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the tissue engaging portion includes a cutting portion disposed between two pointed ends. 
     
     
       18. The spinal implant assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the passage includes a rectilinear trajectory extending between the peripheral wall and the vertebral contact surface. 
     
     
       19. The spinal implant assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the implant includes a second passage comprising a second interior wall and extending from the peripheral wall to the vertebral contact surface; and
 wherein the anchor includes a second body with a shape complementary to the shape of the second passage and a second plurality of teeth disposed on a surface of the second body, wherein upon insertion of the second body into the second passage at least one tooth of the second plurality of teeth includes a tip engaging the second interior wall and securing the anchor within the passage and the second passage. 
 
     
     
       20. The spinal implant assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the anchor includes a link joining the body and the second body adjacent a first end, and wherein the link engages a portion of the peripheral wall upon insertion of the anchor into the implant.